Manchester United nut Crolla will be cheered on at ringside by some of Jose Mourinho’s squad in a 15,000 Manchester Arena crowd.

His trainer Joe Gallagher tried to keep his man in the gym as much as possible and even cut down the number of times he was allowed to go to Old Trafford to watch his beloved side play.

It was too long ago that Crolla was fighting on the bills of small-hall shows around Manchester.

“I don’t see myself as no big sports star, it’s just a job,” said Crolla.

“I have the same mates I had since I was a kid. They don’t treat me any different, they just rip me more. They are not impressed by it.

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“They love the night out but it is just my job. I don’t think of my mate ‘the great bricklayer’ or the ‘great electrician’ so they don’t treat me differently. I’m still around the same people I have been for years.”

But what has changed is his future with fiancée Fran Sanderson and son Jesse.

Long gone is the Vauxhall Corsa nicknamed ‘red rocket’ that ferried them around when Crolla was enduring a bumpy ride in his career.

Now he drives a Mercedes C Class having paid off the mortgage on the family home following the first defence of the title he is trying to win back tonight.

Victory against Linares - as well as being a shock for a fighter with a record of five defeats and three draws in his 39 fights - would give Crolla get the chance to emulate his hero Ricky Hatton by going to Las Vegas for a unification clash with WBC champion Mikey Garcia.

“I came into boxing to win a world title, pay a house off,” said Crolla. “I’ve done that and makes life a little bit easier in the future.

“But winning that belt back in front of 15,000 people - that beats any pay cheque.

“For me it’s about getting this one out of the way and if that comes, - the Brits invading The Strip like they did for Ricky - then so be it.”